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For members

LIVING IN AUSTRIA

11 tips on how to behave in an Austrian sauna

As the days and nights get colder, chances are that you may be invited to join friends at an Austrian spa, or Therme. For Brits and Americans Austria’s spa culture can come as a bit of a surprise - most of the saunas are mixed gender for starters, and swimming costumes are not allowed. For anyone unsure of what to expect or how to behave, here are some pointers.

11 tips on how to behave in an Austrian sauna
How to behave in Austrian saunas. Photo by HUUM on Unsplash

Dress code. Yes, you do have to be naked, and no, you can’t keep your underwear on like you did in the showers at school. You’ll probably be asked to leave if you insist on wearing any clothing. It’s a good idea to have two towels. One to place on the wooden bench under your feet (this prevents the spread of nasty things like verrucas) and one to sit on. Remember to remove any metal jewellery before you go in the sauna, as it could get very hot and burn your skin.

It’s also a good idea to bring a bathrobe, as larger public saunas normally have a cafe or snack bar serving light meals and drinks, and a robe comes in handy. Flip flops are also a good idea for wearing in between sauna sessions, but leave them outside the door when you go in the sauna.

Cleanliness. Do have a shower first, before entering the pool or sauna. And do hose down the bench where you’ve been sitting in the steam room before you leave. No one wants to sit in a pool of your sweat.

Close the door! When you go into the sauna room itself, you must open and close the door quickly. If you forget, you may hear a cry of ‘Tür zu!’ (close the door). It’s important that the heat is retained within the sauna.

Grooming. Going to the spa and shaving your legs in the shower or steam room is a no no. Same goes for plucking chin hairs, clipping nails or any other grooming routines that should only be done in the privacy of your own bathroom at home. 

Talking. Is allowed but keep it quiet and to a minimum. People do greet each other as they enter the sauna, and sometimes there is a bit of banter but don’t let it get out of hand.

No ogling. Yes, everybody is naked and you will see bodies of all shapes and sizes but this isn’t an excuse to stare. Saunas are about relaxing and Austrians consider them a holistic treatment which benefit the body and mind – especially after a long day hiking or skiing. If you’re looking for a hookup, stick to Tinder.

Laughing. Try not to giggle and snigger when the usually male sauna attendant comes in for the ‘Aufguss’, and whirls a towel around his head. This is when the water is mixed with essential oils and poured onto the glowing coals of the sauna – making the heat shoot up drastically for a few minutes. Try not to go in or out of the sauna during these moments and keep the door closed. Do clap when the sauna attendant has finished.

Fainting. If you feel very unwell and think you might faint because of the heat, please leave the sauna as soon as you can. Vomiting or passing out on the naked person next to you is a no no.

Avoid the top bench if you’re a newbie. This is because heat rises, and it’s a long way down if you start to feel unwell. It’s recommended that those who are new to the sauna only stay in for around 8 to 10 minutes and sit on the middle or lower bench, at a temperature of 60 to 70C.

Sex. Absolutely not. Don’t see an empty sauna or steam room as an excuse to get jiggy with your partner, like these couples did. You will be banned from the spa if you are caught in the act.

Don’t over do it. People generally take up to three sauna sessions in one visit, lasting anything from 5 to 20 minutes each. The ‘rest periods’ in between – either outside in the fresh air or in a cooler relaxation room – should last at least as long as the previous sauna session; 20 to 30 minutes is recommended. A complete sauna visit takes two to three hours. Don’t be surprised if you feel tired after the sauna. Remember to drink plenty of water after your sauna session (but not during) and avoid alcohol.

And don’t forget that some Austrian spas offer free entry if it’s your birthday

For members

POLITICS

EXPLAINED: Austria wants to define its fundamental culture but what is it?

Politicians from Austria's centre-right ÖVP are putting together a definition of Austria's 'guiding culture', known in German as 'Leitkultur'. What is that and why are they doing it?

EXPLAINED: Austria wants to define its fundamental culture but what is it?

When you think of Austria, your first thoughts might be of Alpine hills, Schnitzel and traditional folk music. 

Is this what politicians are referring to when they talk about Austrian ‘Leitkultur’ or ‘leading or guiding culture’? 

Many in Austria are considering this question because the coalition government is honing in on this concept. 

Austria’s Integration Minister Susanne Raab, of the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), has been tasked by chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) to develop a legal definition of ‘Austrian guiding culture’.

It’s part of the “Austria Plan” that Nehammer presented earlier this year when he called for a “guiding Austrian culture by 2030, which should also be reflected in law as a national cultural asset”.

READ ALSO: ‘Austria Plan’ – What are the chancellor’s new plans for the country?

Raab said it should ensure “that symbols and behaviours that contradict our fundamental values can be treated in a legally differentiated manner”.

However, this topic has been the subject of heated debate with critics accusing politicians of using it to alienate immigrants, particularly asylum seekers and refugees.There is a fear that the ‘Leitkultur’ concept goes against multiculturalism and calls on people to conform to one ‘guiding culture’ without an acceptance of other ways of life outside western culture. 

The concept is not just a talking point in Austria – it’s also been discussed heavily in neighbouring Germany for years, particularly by centre-right and far-right parties. 

How is Austria planning to define Leitkultur?

The Austrian government says it wants to define a concept of national cultural heritage in law over the next six years. 

As a first step, the Integration Minister has brought together a panel of experts who will meet on Thursday.

Under the banner “Austrian identity and guiding culture: values of coexistence”, the first meeting will be an introductory exchange, according to Raab’s office. The minister will outline her approach to the topic before the discussion, Austrian newspaper Der Standard reported.

The panel includes Katharina Pabel, a lawyer from Linz, Rainer Münz, who worked for Erste Bank and advised Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the EU Commission and Wolfgang Mazal, a professor at the Institute for Labour and Social Law at the University of Vienna.

What is Austrian ‘guiding culture’?

In an interview with Der Standard before the meeting, Mazal said the initial discussion “should serve to find a consensus in society about what is important to us and what form of coexistence we should cultivate”. He added that the ‘Leitkultur’ debate should be a “process of reflection”.

Mazal does not share the criticism of the term – in his view, it is not about placing one culture above others. Similar to the mission statement of a company, a “guiding culture” should define the “fundamental direction” of a society, he said. 

But the ÖVP’s communication has been more rigid. Secretary General Christian Stocker, for instance, recently explained in a Facebook video that Austrian identity is “what defines us”. This goes “from A to Z”, for example from brass band music to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. “How we celebrate our festivals and holidays” is also part of our identity, he said. And “anyone who doesn’t want to accept all that is welcome to leave”, he made clear.

Overall, the People’s Party is focussing the debate very strongly on the topic of migration. Stocker says, for example, in the context of his comments on identity, that those “who have come to us” have done so voluntarily. “They have chosen this country and therefore they must also accept how we live in this country, what tradition and identity we have.”

In social media posts, Der Standard notes that the party states things like: “Anyone who believes that they should not shake a woman’s hand because she is ‘unclean’ must leave.” Or: “Anyone who rejects our way of life must leave!” 

Integration a key component 

Integration Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) told the Kronen Zeitung earlier this year that the concept was centred on integration. 

“Integration means learning the language, going to work and also accepting the values of our coexistence,” she said.

“And that is relevant because many people come to us who have been socialised completely differently. Where the culture is completely different, where women are worth less than men, where girls have no access to education and are forced into marriage or where the police are not your friend and helper, but highly corrupt. All of this is important to convey. And this is where immigrants also have to adapt.”

Raab added that it was possible for someone who did not adapt to face sanctions. 

“Yes, there will be measures that can be implemented in law, Raab told the newspaper, suggesting that could include cuts to social benefits, for example, or negative influences in the citizenship procedure or to asylum status.

The minister gave the example of when refugees come to Austria they have to take a German and values course as well as sign a declaration of integration otherwise there is a risk of having social benefits cut. The ÖVP is also currently considering further sanctions. 

Whatever the case, it is clear that the ÖVP is pushing for more integration measures in Austria, which is something they have been doing consistently. 

READ ALSO: Austrian minister wants foreigners to improve German levels to keep social benefits

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